Another smash success for Newbury Spring Festival – in Hungerford
Another smash success for the Newbury Spring Festival. Another triumph for the Fantasia Orchestra. Another fabulous evening to lift the roof of St Lawrence’s Church in Hungerford. The Fantasia Orchestra, formed less than 10 years ago but already having enjoyed a debut last year at the Proms, was in town for a gorgeously curated classical concert, a programme designed for strings, clarinets and horns.
Opening with Gluck and the Dance of the Furies (from Orpheus ed Euridice), Tom Fetherstonhaugh’s young musicians made their programme statement of “Torment & Tranquillity” – furiously paced, hugely recognisable, it was gloriously out there! The second-half opener – the masterful Haydn and La Passione – demonstrated the sophistication preferred by his sponsor, Prince Nicholas Esterhazy. Not really a “concert” piece, the magic it fashions is totally alluring.
Two pieces of Mozart, of very different styles, were also enjoyed. The musical prodigy travelled Europe from a young age and absorbed the emerging musical styles of his time, including new ideas in the brutally competitive world of opera. Horn soloist Zoe Tweed stunned the audience with her performance of the Horn Concerto.
The audience were treated to an encore at the end of each half. To finish, we soaked up the most moving rendition of Danny Boy – different in style, composition and time from the evening’s main programme – where the horns provided such an amazing crescendo of finale sound that you felt the middle of you might crumble.
But surely the first half encore trumped all. As we understand it, Mozart’s Concerto for the Alp Horn must be played on any fashioned length of tube but not a professional modern horn – a bit of a challenge for top horn soloist, Zoe Tweed. Not to be undone, she produced 12 feet of garden hose, strapped together with a funnel (mostly decorative) and, with only the addition of her usual mouthpiece, she and the Fantasia Orchestra gave us the 3rd Movement. It was brilliant, she was brilliant. Simply jaw-dropping talent.
There aren’t too many events left in this year’s Newbury Spring Festival but still a diversity of styles, genres and options in the final couple of days. Pick one and go!
Photos by kind permission of Fantasia Orchestra
